Farewell Vantage V8
Discussion
News that my 997GT3 arrives in the UK in a few weeks should be greeted with whoops of joy, but the sad fact is the Vantage has really grown on me & I will be very sorry to part with what isn't just a car, more extended family
! The beast only has 4500 miles on the clock, I should have used her more!
Of course when you buy a car they are "really hard to come by sir, sorry discounts..... what are they"? Then you come to sell, sucks air through teeth, "well sir they have just dropped in the book & there are a few around now"...so £70 quid is about it!!
So now, over the next few weeks (I intend to keep her right up the last minute & enjoy every last moment!), I'm off to punt her around the dealers to see who will fleece me less, of course the fact that it has a large spec with a vast array of options,is in popular Titanium Silver with tasteful Caspian Blue Interior, the best spec when I purchased, will no doubt turn out to be just the one the dealer doesn't want!
The joys of being a car nut!
I'll let you know once a deal is done & post an end of term report (that ones for you Pugsey)for prospective V8 purchasers, chaps if you pondering a V8...do it you won't regret it....until you come to sell!!!
Oh no I'm off again
! The beast only has 4500 miles on the clock, I should have used her more! Of course when you buy a car they are "really hard to come by sir, sorry discounts..... what are they"? Then you come to sell, sucks air through teeth, "well sir they have just dropped in the book & there are a few around now"...so £70 quid is about it
!! So now, over the next few weeks (I intend to keep her right up the last minute & enjoy every last moment!), I'm off to punt her around the dealers to see who will fleece me less, of course the fact that it has a large spec with a vast array of options,is in popular Titanium Silver with tasteful Caspian Blue Interior, the best spec when I purchased, will no doubt turn out to be just the one the dealer doesn't want!
The joys of being a car nut!
I'll let you know once a deal is done & post an end of term report (that ones for you Pugsey)for prospective V8 purchasers, chaps if you pondering a V8...do it you won't regret it....until you come to sell!!!
Oh no I'm off again
Sad to hear that you are finding it hard letting go....
You can be happy for me though cos mine is finally arriving in March!!!
You can look forward to future AM ownership. By the time you bore of the of GT3's "maximum attack" temperament you'll have so many AMv8 variants and options to choose from such as the Roadster, N24, sportshifts, engine upgrades and so on.
You'll be back again. I know
You can be happy for me though cos mine is finally arriving in March!!!
You can look forward to future AM ownership. By the time you bore of the of GT3's "maximum attack" temperament you'll have so many AMv8 variants and options to choose from such as the Roadster, N24, sportshifts, engine upgrades and so on.
You'll be back again. I know
I know how you feel Grant and share your sentiment. I have to face reality and one must go, either the TT or Vantage, problem is I change my mind each time I drive the other car. The shear pace and ease that the Porsche exercises while demolishing even the poorest roads is breathtaking ( as you well know) , while the presence , style and comfort ( among it`s many other attributes) that the Aston shows is making the decision to part with one of them, a very tough one indeed.
Maybe the best idea is to offer both for sale and keep the one that lags !!
I1m sure you`ll forget all about yours after a few weeks of " maximum attack " in the gt3 and wonder why and how you became so attached to what is , after all , a bit of a plodder ,
By the way , are you in any of the pictures ? ( re -Evo )
Maybe the best idea is to offer both for sale and keep the one that lags !!
I1m sure you`ll forget all about yours after a few weeks of " maximum attack " in the gt3 and wonder why and how you became so attached to what is , after all , a bit of a plodder ,
By the way , are you in any of the pictures ? ( re -Evo )
mikial said:
Maybe the best idea is to offer both for sale and keep the one that lags !!
I1m sure you`ll forget all about yours after a few weeks of " maximum attack " in the gt3 and wonder why and how you became so attached to what is , after all , a bit of a plodder ,
By the way , are you in any of the pictures ? ( re -Evo )
Hi Mikial,
I forgot you have the best of both worlds, I envy that lovely choice.
I did come up with my own "cunning plan"... the other half has a Boxster S & now I have grown to love the Aston, I keep suggesting that she may like to spend her hard earnt money on a Vantage Roadster that I could (clears throat nervously) borrow occasionally, sadly she isn't convinced, I think the exact words were s*d off! The GT3 & Roadster would be a fabulous pairing, but there is just the small matter of landslide depreciation, I must have Scottish blood (apologies to the Scots)love cars, hate spending money!
You are right about the Aston being a bit of a plod compared to the Turbo, but every car I purchased was faster than the last & with the TT's warp factor lunge towards license loosing at the twitch of your right toe I thought, enough or I'll end up simply strapping myself to a rocket in the end! Hence the GT3, it isn't any faster than the Turbo but it should delivery a new more interactive high revving experience, if I don't loose my fillings before I can enjoy it to the full.
Well spotted in Evo, fame at last, autograph signing to be arranged
. Actually it was Pugsey who conned me into letting Richard "sideways" Meaden drive my car...only joking! It was a fun day & I got to drive the Prodrive car & witness some excellent driving, and NO I wasn't in any of the photo's, thank goodness could have caused mass subscription cancellations! XXXAngelXXX said:
i feel sorry for you Grant (for that you have to drive a Porsche now) 
Angel there is some truth in that, in the Aston people see you as nice, a gentleman, most people love the car, sadly the Porsche is seen as brash & flash, thank goodness I haven't ordered orange! The GT3 is a bit of a delinquent with its add on spoilers & scoops! So I will go from gentleman to thug in one step, let us hope the GT3 lives up to its driving promise, otherwise I'll be punting that next & trying to buy the Aston back, which will by then be £10k dearer in a dealer somewhere..ho hum!
Edited by Grant3 on Saturday 13th January 10:00
Grant3 said:
mikial said:
Maybe the best idea is to offer both for sale and keep the one that lags !!
I1m sure you`ll forget all about yours after a few weeks of " maximum attack " in the gt3 and wonder why and how you became so attached to what is , after all , a bit of a plodder ,
By the way , are you in any of the pictures ? ( re -Evo )
Hi Mikial,
I forgot you have the best of both worlds, I envy that lovely choice.
I did come up with my own "cunning plan"... the other half has a Boxster S & now I have grown to love the Aston, I keep suggesting that she may like to spend her hard earnt money on a Vantage Roadster that I could (clears throat nervously) borrow occasionally, sadly she isn't convinced, I think the exact words were s*d off! The GT3 & Roadster would be a fabulous pairing, but there is just the small matter of landslide depreciation, I must have Scottish blood (apologies to the Scots)love cars, hate spending money!
You are right about the Aston being a bit of a plod compared to the Turbo, but every car I purchased was faster than the last & with the TT's warp factor lunge towards license loosing at the twitch of your right toe I thought, enough or I'll end up simply strapping myself to a rocket in the end! Hence the GT3, it isn't any faster than the Turbo but it should delivery a new more interactive high revving experience, if I don't loose my fillings before I can enjoy it to the full.
Well spotted in Evo, fame at last, autograph signing to be arranged
. Actually it was Pugsey who conned me into letting Richard "sideways" Meaden drive my car...only joking! It was a fun day & I got to drive the Prodrive car & witness some excellent driving, and NO I wasn't in any of the photo's, thank goodness could have caused mass subscription cancellations! XXXAngelXXX said:
i feel sorry for you Grant (for that you have to drive a Porsche now)
Angel there is some truth in that, in the Aston people see you as nice, a gentleman, most people love the car, sadly the Porsche is seen as brash & flash, thank goodness I haven't ordered orange! The GT3 is a bit of a delinquent with its add on spoilers & scoops! So I will go from gentleman to thug in one step, let us hope the GT3 lives up to its driving promise, otherwise I'll be punting that next & trying to buy the Aston back, which will by then be £10k dearer in a dealer somewhere..ho hum!
Edited by Grant3 on Saturday 13th January 10:00
Re. Porsche v Aston. The local worthies in my village have recently seen fit to comment that the GT3 is a little, er,NOISEY!!! When I commented that I used to wail through the village in 2nd gear in the V8 - the better to enjoy the noise - they just said "but that was such a lovely car"! That's the difference! PS As soon as I realised you are better looking than me I made sure you didn't appear in any photos! GT3s arriving a bit early?
Edited by Pugsey on Saturday 13th January 16:09
Pugsey said:
I'm not going to add my commiserations because I know that you are going to a far better place...........! Re. Porsche v Aston. The local worthies in my village have recently seen fit to comment that the GT3 is a little, er,NOISEY!!! When I commented that I used to wail through the village in 2nd gear in the V8 - the better to enjoy the noise - they just said "but that was such a lovely car"! That's the difference!
PS As soon as I realised you are better looking than me I made sure you didn't appear in any photos! GT3s arriving a bit early?
Re. Porsche v Aston. The local worthies in my village have recently seen fit to comment that the GT3 is a little, er,NOISEY!!! When I commented that I used to wail through the village in 2nd gear in the V8 - the better to enjoy the noise - they just said "but that was such a lovely car"! That's the difference! PS As soon as I realised you are better looking than me I made sure you didn't appear in any photos! GT3s arriving a bit early?
Hi Pugs (I keep meaning to ask how your web name relates to Tony?)
I'm not actually picking up the GT3 until March with the new registration, but I want to trade the Aston a touch before to avoid breaking down in tears at the dealership when I'm picking up the new car!
I have ordered a pit bull, some tattoo's & a hoodie to go with my new image with the Thug (read GT3
) which will be its nickname. Of course you have been here before, so none of this is news to you, does the vicar still talk to you since you turned up in that be-winged monster? I still find the reaction to the Aston strange, just today I had two people come up to chat in a petrol station & a young lad (only about 8 years old) ask if he could take a picture with his camera phone because he loved Astons. I won't miss the attention, but I will miss the positive reaction it generates
as appose to the usual green eyed monster. From March onwards I expect to be dodging the flem, but hopefully I'll be going so fast it will miss & I'll be having so much fun I won't care!!! Time will tell! GetCarter said:
Let us know what you think of the 997 Grant.
Shiny side up remember.
Steve
Shiny side up remember.
Steve
Cheers mate, I'll let you know what the Thug is like, what will you look at next after the V8 or are you keeping it long term?
GetCarter said:
Grant3 said:
what will you look at next after the V8 or are you keeping it long term?
Everything I buy is long term... I just can't make things stick. (My accountant hates me).
I have an order in for the quick AMV8. All I have to do is earn some bloody money to pay for it.
Love all the comments , by the by, I ran a mk11 gt3 in 2003 for a year,( you cannot help being a hooligan) it was my return to the fold after an hiatus of a decade or more, previously I had a 911 club sport in race trim and a 3 litre turbo ( the drummer from Deep Purple no less was the initial owner , yes , before you ask I`m well old ) driving a Porsche to me is like slipping into your favourite John Lobbs, a natural fit .
Please to excuse the ramblings, Tesco finest has a rather good Sancere at a tad under six sovs.
Peace to all
@ Grant:
to be honest the 997 GT3 was the only car i considered beside the AM V8V - one of my best friends is the CEO of factory owned Porsche Centre Stuttgart (they got only 5 GT3s in 2006) - but then the AM is such a lovely car with such a great V8 sound
to be honest the 997 GT3 was the only car i considered beside the AM V8V - one of my best friends is the CEO of factory owned Porsche Centre Stuttgart (they got only 5 GT3s in 2006) - but then the AM is such a lovely car with such a great V8 sound
Edited by XXXAngelXXX on Sunday 14th January 12:08
Grant3 said:
Stanwan congratulations do tell us the full spec, but be warned this car will get under your skin.
deakon you don't get off that lightly I'll be haunting the Aston section for years!
deakon you don't get off that lightly I'll be haunting the Aston section for years!
Edited by Grant3 on Friday 12th January 23:34
Meteorite, Black cherry and 19s. THe usual "resale essentials" such as sat-nav and bluetooth are on there too. I've stayed with the standard stereo as I'll be too busy listening to the V8 growl away.
I too origianlly looked to buying the GT3 (996 variant) prior to plumping for the Aston. Thing is, I really couldn't justify getting one, knowing that I'll be driving it at snails pace around SE London traffic.
stanwan said:
Meteorite, Black cherry and 19s. THe usual "resale essentials" such as sat-nav and bluetooth are on there too. I've stayed with the standard stereo as I'll be too busy listening to the V8 growl away.
I too origianlly looked to buying the GT3 (996 variant) prior to plumping for the Aston. Thing is, I really couldn't justify getting one, knowing that I'll be driving it at snails pace around SE London traffic.
Tasty, The Prodrive test car was Meteorite, the colour certainly made the V8 look mean & moody on the road. I wouldn't worry about the stereo, the standard set up is very good, once you turn the volume up it really punches with depth, it is only at low levels that the balance is rather thin! Interesting that you considered a GT3, funnily enough I wouldn't have purchased the 996GT3 as the ride was simply too uncompromising for daily use, I'm hoping PASM will make the ride acceptable as per the press reports, a brief sit in Pugseys car said this was the case, but until you drive it yourself on roads you don't know!
Anyway congratlations on the new car don't forget to post some pictures once she arrives.
gt2man-2 said:
If you're being kicked in the nuts by dealers Grant, let us know what they're offering in case we can beat it !
They don't exactly kick you in the nuts, it's more modern man......
I think the saying is....back, crack & sack
, apparently brings tears to your eyes! Best bid so far is a smidgen under £71k, lowest was £67k (A certain Mr Hartley!) but I am working on it, next stop £72??!!! Lowest retail I have seen is £75k for a low spec higher mileage car!
Grant3 said:
gt2man-2 said:
If you're being kicked in the nuts by dealers Grant, let us know what they're offering in case we can beat it !
They don't exactly kick you in the nuts, it's more modern man......
I think the saying is....back, crack & sack
, apparently brings tears to your eyes! Best bid so far is a smidgen under £71k, lowest was £67k (A certain Mr Hartley!) but I am working on it, next stop £72??!!! Lowest retail I have seen is £75k for a low spec higher mileage car!
Pugsey said:
Ouch! - still hopefully it hasn't come as a complete suprise, and I guess it's not too much dosh to loose when set off against all the hours of pleasure the V8's given you. Not compared with all those exotic holidays for example! Are you going to try private sale? Beware the GT3 mate - since bedding it in I don't think I've driven it at anything other than eye watering speeds. Unlike the AM unless you drive it hard you tend to feel it's a bit pointless and I'm genuinely wondering whether an AMV8 and a Caterham would be a better combo. Knowing what an old smoothy you are, I'm going to guess that after a few months fun you'll be heading back to AM - so keep that no. plate! Don't think the Porker will kich you in the teeth on re sale though. Porsche seem to be sticking to their word on supply numbers. My OPC offered me £2000 behind list for my two month/2000mile old car and a couple of independents offered full list - it's still a premium privately. Fingers crossed for selling when V8 Roadster/AudiR8 arrives - amazingly not long now - decisions, decisions!!
Now you tell me!
In honesty I have always had my Pork with 030 sports suspension finding the standard cat too "floaty" the Aston is actually more focussed than a standard 996, if not a 997S with PASM! So providing the 997GT3's ride isn't as bad as the X-74 sprung 996GT3 I think I'll be ok......BUT as you well know the Aston is about so much more than just the driving, so I think you are right, given time I'll be back in one.
You really were shrewd in selling yours at full list, I expected to loose £10k in a year, but was secretly hoping for 5k! Mind you they are starting to look value, mine would be over £90k now new, so low £70's looks good value!I'm not sure about the private bit, last time I tried this I just had a host of traders offering 3p & other people wanting me to advertise!
GT2man-2 said:
Grant.. what year/reg is the car ?
Tom Hartley in bidding in the balls shocker !
Tom Hartley in bidding in the balls shocker !
Edited by GT2man-2 on Tuesday 16th January 11:45
It's late November 05, so 55, 4600 miles only & had its annual service end of last year, also has most of the right toys. Why are you being tempted out of the GT2, or did you choose the log in name when you had a GT2?
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